Mental health

Mental health and wellbeing for employees

Working abroad requires more than physical preparation. Employees have to adapt to a different daily routine, often far from their family, friends and familiar surroundings. This can be emotionally challenging, particularly when combined with long working hours, high workloads or assignments in remote or high-risk locations.

Feelings of loneliness, stress, anxiety or constant alertness can gradually develop. Critical incidents, such as aggression, a serious accident or a disaster, can also have significant psychological consequences.

Corporate Travel Clinic supports organisations and their employees with mental health and wellbeing before departure, during international assignments and following critical incidents.

Preventive mental health support

Employees are more likely to feel supported and heard when their employer takes an active interest in their mental health. This can contribute to a sense of security and connection, particularly when employees spend extended periods away from home or work in challenging environments.

Addressing mental resilience and potential risk factors before an international assignment can therefore be valuable. This may include providing information on managing stress and recognising early signs of mental overload.

We also offer a preventive mental health programme to assess employees’ psychological wellbeing. Assessments can be carried out individually or across teams, departments or an entire organisation. Where the results indicate a need for further support, additional counselling or treatment can be arranged.

Mental health support during international assignments

Extended periods away from home, limited contact with family and friends, unfamiliar cultures or living environments, and working under pressure can all affect employees’ mental wellbeing.

During an international assignment, employees can receive psychological support from a psychologist or counsellor. Regular remote consultations can help identify early warning signs and provide access to professional support when employees experience stress, low mood, anxiety, loneliness or other mental health concerns.

Psychological support following a critical incident

Employees working in high-risk environments may experience aggression, accidents, disasters or other distressing events. The psychological impact can be significant, and symptoms may not become apparent until some time after the incident.

Corporate Travel Clinic has a trauma psychologist available 24/7 by telephone for professional advice and consultation. Where necessary, the trauma psychologist can also be deployed to international project locations.

Depending on the severity and duration of symptoms, further psychological support or specialist trauma aftercare can be arranged.

Mental health aftercare following an international assignment

Employees may also need support after returning home. Readjusting to everyday life following an international assignment can take time. In addition, psychological symptoms related to a critical incident may only become apparent later.

Where necessary, employees can receive support during their return and readjustment or be referred for specialist trauma counselling.

Our employee mental health services

Depending on the circumstances, our mental health support services may include:

• Preventive mental health screening and assessments;
• Information and guidance on managing stress and psychological strain;
• Support for employees experiencing stress, anxiety or loneliness;
• Remote consultations with a psychologist or counsellor during international assignments;
• Telephone consultations with a trauma psychologist;
• On-site deployment of a trauma psychologist;
• Psychological support following traumatic or critical incidents;
• Mental health support and aftercare following an international assignment.

Experience supporting international projects

We support organisations with employees working in international, maritime and offshore environments.

Interested in learning more about our experience?

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